Cecily Macdonald - Weekend Wraps: 18 Quick Knit Cowls, Scarves & Shawls

For Stella and Viviane, my little loves. You are the two best reasons for not having time to knit. M.L.

This, our third book with Interweave, began with some questions: What would you want to make over a weekend, if you could really just spend a few days relaxing and knitting? What would you want to wear on an autumn weekend away? Whats your ideal accessory on a brisk fall walk? What would you wrap yourself in while warming up in front of the fire? We covered hats last time. What about something bigger?

We approached designers who we know also love to ponder these questions, and we gave them one other guideline: Use only worsted or heavier yarns, so that someone might even finish their project in a short, or long, weekend. We were overwhelmed by their enthusiastic response and the designs they came up with. The result is a collection of designs that we absolutely love and are so excited about.

There are cowls, shawls, scarves, wraps, and shrugs for knitters of all skill levels included in this volume. We hope youll find several projects that have you grabbing your needles and casting on!

Cowls are great everyday projects because of their portability. Keep one in your bag or tote so you can easily sneak in a row or two on your lunch break or while waiting for an appointment. They also make great quick gifts, and these lovely loops worked in worsted-weight and bulky yarns are sure to knit up in no time.

This little cowl uses a sweet stitch and a bulky yarn to make a quick cool-weather accessory. It features shaping that will help keep the cowl firmly planted on your shoulders. The name comes from the Little Waves stitch pattern that creates vertical zigzags.

3814" (97 cm) bottom circumference and 10" (25.5 cm) long.

Chunky weight (#5 Bulky).

Shown here: Quince & Co. Puffin (100% wool; 112 yd [102 m]/312 oz [100 g]): clay, 2 skeins.

Size U.S. 11 (8 mm) and 1012 (6.5 mm): 32" (80 cm) circular (cir). Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

Stitch marker (m); cable needle (cn); tapestry needle.

11 sts and 19 rnds = 4" (10 cm) in Little Waves patt with larger needles.

Stitch Guide

LT (left twist): Sl 1 st onto cn and hold in front of work, k1, k1 from cn.

RT (right twist): Sl 1 st onto cn and hold in back of work, k1, k1 from cn.

Little Waves Chart

With larger cir needle, use long-tail method () to CO 105 sts. Place marker (pm) and join for working in rnds, being careful not to twist sts.

Rnd 1: Knit.

Rnd 2: *K3, p2; rep from * to end.

Rnd 3: *K2, LT (), k1; rep from * to end.

Rnd 4: *K2, p1, k1, p1; rep from * to end.

Rnd 5: *K3, LT; rep from * to end.

Rnd 6: *K2, p2, k1; rep from * to end.

Rnd 7: Knit.

Rnd 8: *K2, p2, k1; rep from * to end.

Rnd 9: *K3, RT (); rep from * to end.

Rnd 10: *K2, p1, k1, p1; rep from * to end.

Rnd 11: *K2, RT, k1; rep from * to end.

Rnd 12: *K3, p2; rep from * to end.

Rep Rnds 112 two more times, then rep Rnds 16 once more. Piece should measure about 834" (22 cm) from beg.

Rnd 1: Knit.

Rnd 2 (dec): *K2tog, k1, p2; rep from * to end84 sts rem.

Rnd 3: *K1, LT, p1; rep from * to end.

Rnd 4: *K1, p1; rep from * to end.

Rnd 5: *K2, LT; rep from * to end.

Rnd 6: *K1, [p2, k2] to last st, k1.

Change to smaller cir needle. Rep last row 2 more times.

BO all sts in patt.

Weave in ends. Wet-block to measurements.